Bioinformatic Techniques on Marine Genomics 10.9 Proteomics and Seafood 301
Part B | 10.9
of biodiversity, especially their role in ecosystem services, such as global nutrient recycling and climate.
Here, we highlight the significance of genomics and genetic principles in elucidating the interactions among
different biological levels of diversity, from genetic
and cellular, to community and ecosystem-level processes. Genomic methods are especially powerful in
disclosing previously undetected taxonomic (e.g., DNA
barcoding), genetic (e.g., 454 sequencing), and functional (e.g., gene expression, analysis of metabolites)
diversity, including the identification of new species and
metabolic pathways.
10.8 Proteomics as Potential Tool for Survey in Marine Biotechnology
Currently, newer regulations have been introduced to
ensure that marine resources are exploited in a rational way, thus preventing depletion of the available
resources. Accordingly, proteomic tools are aimed at
the investigation of the proteome, which includes all
changes in the quantities and post-translational modifications of all the proteins in cells. The changes may be
brought about by growth, differentiation, senescence,
changes in the environment, genetic manipulation, or
other events. To date, the application of proteomic
tools for the investigation of seafood and other marine products has been scarce. An idea of the current
limited impact of proteomics in this research field can
also be gained if one considers that SWISSPROT, EXPASSY, NCBI, and other databases include fewer than
23 000 amino acid sequences from teleost fish proteins,
most of which correspond to the Euteleostei group.
By contrast, there are nearly 610 000 nucleotide sequences reported for this group of aquatic vertebrates.
Thus, the relative amount of information about protein sequences in this field is below 4% with respect
to the number of DNA sequences available. Nevertheless, it should be stressed that proteomics has been
useful in some biomedical applications of marine proteins. Additionally, proteomics has afforded valuable
tools for the investigation of fish physiology and pathology. Among the research areas in which proteomics
may have applied interest for the investigation of teleost
fish, the following should be noted: antifreeze proteins, immunoglobulins, and enzymes. Note should
also be taken of the application of proteomics to the
sequencing of parvalbumins and to the characterization of their allergenic potential or calcium transport
properties.
10.9 Proteomics and Seafood
From the nutritional and functional points of view, proteins are the basic components of seafood. The wide
variability of proteins present in seafood and their
highly variable composition offers a strong potential to
originate a large variety of different products. In addition, the denaturation levels of seafood proteins are
closely related to the sensory and technological properties of seafood products. Proteomic tools have seldom
been applied to food nutritional analysis and, in the particular case of seafood technology, the shortage is even
more relevant. Thus, MS methods have been considered
in nutritional studies on milk and egg products. The application of proteomics to marine biotechnology began
in the past decade. Important fields such as investigation of the expression of selected exogenous features
introducing rough DNA manipulation techniques in
transgenic fish have only been recently initiated. Although fish transgenesis involves gene integration and
transmission steps achieved by gene mapping and other
genomic tools, follow-up of the expression of such
genes and the subsequent biosynthesis of recombinant proteins involves the use of proteomic tools. It
should be noted that although the genomes of both
wild-type and transgenic marine organisms are welldefined and not subject to variation; the proteome of
these organisms may depend on several intracellular
and/or extracellular factors and is hence subject to variation, thus being in a dynamic state. Accordingly, the
follow-up of the advanced steps of gene expression
by proteomic tools allows research scientists to elucidate the effect of such factors on the proteome, thereby
providing valuable information aimed at obtaining the
optimum levels of a target protein involved in prototrophy and growth, or in other features of technological
interest. From the biotechnological point of view, traits
of interest in aquaculture have focused on, amongst
Part B | 10.9
of biodiversity, especially their role in ecosystem services, such as global nutrient recycling and climate.
Here, we highlight the significance of genomics and genetic principles in elucidating the interactions among
different biological levels of diversity, from genetic
and cellular, to community and ecosystem-level processes. Genomic methods are especially powerful in
disclosing previously undetected taxonomic (e.g., DNA
barcoding), genetic (e.g., 454 sequencing), and functional (e.g., gene expression, analysis of metabolites)
diversity, including the identification of new species and
metabolic pathways.
10.8 Proteomics as Potential Tool for Survey in Marine Biotechnology
Currently, newer regulations have been introduced to
ensure that marine resources are exploited in a rational way, thus preventing depletion of the available
resources. Accordingly, proteomic tools are aimed at
the investigation of the proteome, which includes all
changes in the quantities and post-translational modifications of all the proteins in cells. The changes may be
brought about by growth, differentiation, senescence,
changes in the environment, genetic manipulation, or
other events. To date, the application of proteomic
tools for the investigation of seafood and other marine products has been scarce. An idea of the current
limited impact of proteomics in this research field can
also be gained if one considers that SWISSPROT, EXPASSY, NCBI, and other databases include fewer than
23 000 amino acid sequences from teleost fish proteins,
most of which correspond to the Euteleostei group.
By contrast, there are nearly 610 000 nucleotide sequences reported for this group of aquatic vertebrates.
Thus, the relative amount of information about protein sequences in this field is below 4% with respect
to the number of DNA sequences available. Nevertheless, it should be stressed that proteomics has been
useful in some biomedical applications of marine proteins. Additionally, proteomics has afforded valuable
tools for the investigation of fish physiology and pathology. Among the research areas in which proteomics
may have applied interest for the investigation of teleost
fish, the following should be noted: antifreeze proteins, immunoglobulins, and enzymes. Note should
also be taken of the application of proteomics to the
sequencing of parvalbumins and to the characterization of their allergenic potential or calcium transport
properties.
10.9 Proteomics and Seafood
From the nutritional and functional points of view, proteins are the basic components of seafood. The wide
variability of proteins present in seafood and their
highly variable composition offers a strong potential to
originate a large variety of different products. In addition, the denaturation levels of seafood proteins are
closely related to the sensory and technological properties of seafood products. Proteomic tools have seldom
been applied to food nutritional analysis and, in the particular case of seafood technology, the shortage is even
more relevant. Thus, MS methods have been considered
in nutritional studies on milk and egg products. The application of proteomics to marine biotechnology began
in the past decade. Important fields such as investigation of the expression of selected exogenous features
introducing rough DNA manipulation techniques in
transgenic fish have only been recently initiated. Although fish transgenesis involves gene integration and
transmission steps achieved by gene mapping and other
genomic tools, follow-up of the expression of such
genes and the subsequent biosynthesis of recombinant proteins involves the use of proteomic tools. It
should be noted that although the genomes of both
wild-type and transgenic marine organisms are welldefined and not subject to variation; the proteome of
these organisms may depend on several intracellular
and/or extracellular factors and is hence subject to variation, thus being in a dynamic state. Accordingly, the
follow-up of the advanced steps of gene expression
by proteomic tools allows research scientists to elucidate the effect of such factors on the proteome, thereby
providing valuable information aimed at obtaining the
optimum levels of a target protein involved in prototrophy and growth, or in other features of technological
interest. From the biotechnological point of view, traits
of interest in aquaculture have focused on, amongst